| Adj. | 1. in the lead - having the leading position or higher score in a contest; "he is ahead by a pawn"; "the leading team in the pennant race"ahead, leadingup - being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level; "the anchor is up"; "the sun is up"; "he lay face up"; "he is up by a pawn"; "the market is up"; "the corn is up" | Adv. | 1. in the lead - leading or ahead in a competition; "the horse was three lengths ahead going into the home stretch"; "ahead by two pawns"; "our candidate is in the lead in the polls"; "way out front in the race"; "the advertising campaign put them out front in sales"out front, ahead |